Electrical switch having a floating actuator which is detented into various circuit controlling positions by a leaf spring contact



Feb. 27, 1968 T. E. LOHR 3,371,179

ELECTRICAL SWITCH HAVING A FLOATING ACTUATOR WHI IS DETENTED TO VARIOUSCIRCUIT CONTROLLING POSITI BY A LEAF SPRING CONTACT Filed Nov. 22, 1966ATTOQNEY I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,371,179 ELECTRICAL SWITCH HAVING AFLOATING ACTUATOR WHICH IS DETENTED INTO VARIOUS CIRCUIT CONTROLLINGPOSI- TIONS BY A LEAF SPRING CONTACT Thomas E. Lohr, Warren, Mich.,assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,304 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-153)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical switch is constructed of ahousing member and a floating actuating member devoid of attachment tothe housing member and being movable with combined pivotal and bodilymovement therein to a plurality of circuit controlling positions definedby the engagement of a cam nose projection on one of the members in acorresponding detent recess or pocket formed in a surface of the othermember. The actuating member is detented in each of the various circuitcontrolling positions by the bias of resilient contact means which aremoved between predetermined circuit controlling positions by theactuating member.

One feature of this invention is that it provides electrical switchconstruction of exceedingly simple and economical manufacture andincluding an actuating member which floats in its housing member free ofattachment thereto. Another feature of this invention is that thevarious circuit controlling positions of the actuating member aredefined by the engagement of a detent projection on one of the actuatingand housing members in detent recesses in the other of the members.Another feature of the invention is that the detenting engagement isaccomplished by the bias of resilient con-tact means controlled by theactuating member. Certain other features reside in the compactconstruction of the switch, and in the .realization of the abovefeatures with a pivotable actuating member and a resilient cantilevercontact arm.

These and various other features of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of an electrical switch according to thisinvention showing the switch actuating member in a first circuitcontrolling position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicatedby lines 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the actuating member in asecond circuit controlling position.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the switch ofthis invention includes a hollow housing member 10, the main bodyportion 12 of which is of relatively narrow rectangular configurationand provided with an open end opposite its exterior face portion 14.Face portion 14 is provided with a narrow rectangular aperture 16 forthe projection therethrough of a floating actuating member 20.

The open side of housing member body portion 12 is closed by a baseassembly 22 incuding an insulative base 24 of plastic or similarmaterial and carrying a pair of terminal sets 26 of conventionalconstruction. The fastener 28 of one terminal set 26 secures one end ofa cantilever leaf spring contact arm 30 which carries a contact 32 atits other end. Contact 32 is engageable with a stationary contact 2-4formed in the fastener portion 28 of the other terminal set 26. A rubberor like bumper 36 is mounted in base 24 to prevent excessive deformationof contact arm 30.

3,371,179 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 As best viewed in FIGURE 2, theactuating member 20 has a main relatively thin body portion 3'8 carryingat each side thereof a cam nose projection 40. Projections 40 arereceived each within a corresponding constraining recess 42 in theadjacent wall of the housing member body portion 12. Recesses 42 areformed with detent surfaces of sinuous, sinusoidal profile and includinga pair of detent recess or pocket portions 44 separated by a projectingcam portion 46. The interior edge 48 of the body portion 38 of actuatingmember 20 is given a shape of predetermined relation with the locationof the recess portion 44 whereby to define the position of contact arm30 in the two positions of the actuating member 20 a will appearhereinafter.

The contact arm 30 has such a free undeformed state that in the positionof the parts shown in FIGURE 1, the con-tact arm bears against edge 48of the actuating member with sufiicient bias exteriorly of the housingas to engage projection 40 firmly within one of the detent recesses 44and to engage a limit stop shoulder 50 of actuating member 20 againstthe housing. Manual depression on a face 52 of the actuating membermoves the actuating member slightly bodily inwardly of the housing toremove the projection 40 from the one recess portion 44. A cam reliefportion 54 of edge 48 slides over the contact arm and directs the biasof the contact arm to induce the actuating member to pivot clockwise fortraversal of the projection 40 over the cam portion 46 and engagement inthe other or leftward recess portion 44. In this position, the actuatingmember has its edge 48 so oriented as to have forced the contact arm 30toward the base 24 for closure of the contacts 32 and 34. A shoulder 58engages the wall of the housing 10 to provide a stop for this secondposition of the actuating member. The other or leftward detent recess 44embraces the projection 40 to the extent of resisting counterclockwisepivoting of the actuating member from this position by the contact armuntil manual pressure is applied to a face 56 of the actuating member.

It will be appreciated that by proper formation of the detent surfaceson the housing, the shape of edge 48 and the arrangement of one or morecontact arms 30, more than the two illustrated circuit controllingpositions may be provided for the switch parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an electrical switch, a housing member, an actuating memberreceived Within said housing member free of attachment thereto formovement between a plurality of circuit controlling positions relativethereto, one of said members having a detent projection thereon, theother of said members having a projecting engaging detent surfaceincluding a detent recess portion for each of said circuit controllingpositions of said actuating member, resilient contact means on saidhousing member and bear ing against said actuating member to bias thelatter relative to said housing member in a direction for constantengagement of said projection on said detent surface, said projectionand said detent surface being formed to cause said projection to seeklocation within any one of said recess portions under the bias of saidcontact means whereby to detent said actuating member in thecorresponding circuit controlling position thereof, aid actuat ingmember being manually movable relative to said housing member todisengage said projection from said any one recess portion and engagesaid projection within another recess portion in another circuitcontrolling position of said actuating member, said manual movement ofsaid actuating member moving said contact means for control of anassociated circuit.

2. A switch as recited in claim 1 wherein said detent surface is sinuousand includes adjacent detent recess portions separated by a projectingcam portion operative to "I (.9 cause said projection to seek one or theother of said adjacent recess portions.

3. A switch as recited in claim 1 wherein said acuating member includesa contact bearing surface portion against which said contact meansbears, said bearing sur face being shaped to control the position ofsaid contact means relative to a stationary contact means on saidhousing member in the various circuit controlling positions of saidactuating member.

4. A switch as recited in claim 3 wherein said resilient contact meansinclude a cantilever con-tact member.

5. A switch as recited in claim 2 wherein said actuating member isconstrained in said housing member for primarily pivotal movementrelative thereto and for limited bodily movement sufiicient fortraversal of said detent projection over said cam portion of said detentsurface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,802 6/1956 Pashby ZOO-153.9XR 2,909,624 10/1959 Colautti 200153.1() XR 2,916,566 12/1959 Meyer etal. 200153.10 XR ROBERT K. SCHAE'FER, Primary Examiner.

15 H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

